Easter in Finland

Easter in Finland is less celebrated than Christmas through the Lutherians. Churches offer celebrations during the whole weekend including the Orthodoxes.

According to the tradition, bonfires are lighted a bit everywhere in the country to frighten the evil spirits, witches and trolls. In western Finland, kids are dressed as witches and go from house to house to collect candies.

But as in many Western countries, Finns celebrate spring by decorating their houses with bunnies, chicks, eggs and chocolate eggs. Families plant rye grass to symbolize the rebirth of life.Many families prepare roasted lamb as main course. The dessert is mämmi (brown paste made from rye flour flavoured with malt), pasha (sweet creamy pudding) or kulista (spicy bread).

But the "must have" arethe Fazer Mignon eggs. They are real eggs, empties and filled by hand with fine nougat chocolate.

In Finnish, happy Easter is hyvää pääsiäistä.

My tip: on Saturday March 30th at 6.30pm the Easter bonfire is lit in Seurasaari (Helsinki).

Kotiteollisuus - the popular heavy metal rebels

The band was created in 1991 in Lappeenranta (Eastern Finland) and was named "Hullu Ukko ja Kotiteollisuus" but was shorten in 1997. The music style could be descibe as furious heavy metal with a touch of Finnish morosity. The band is very popular in Finland with trash but actual lyrics and provocative attitude on stage. Their main topics are Finland, religion and humanity in general. They recived a couple of platine and gold discs as well as two Emma awards for the best metal album in 2003 (Helvetistä itään) and in 2005 for the best DVD (Kotiteollisuus DVD). Until now, the band has released 14 albums.

In every shops, a special can of beer dedicated to the band is on sale

Website of Kotiteollisuus

No plan for the weekend? Check these VR offers

VR is very generous with the passengers since the beginning of the year. Once again, a special offer is available for travelling between Friday March 22nd to Monday 25th. Tickets are only on sale on Wednesday 20th!

Helsinki-Tampere 5€
Turku-Jyväskylä 8€
Helsinki-Kuopio 10€
Kemi-Tampere 10€

Link to the offers

Have a great weekend!

My tips: each city worth a visit. Kemi for its snow castle, Kuopio for ice skating on the lake, Jyväskylä for its winter sports facilities, Turku for its castle, Tampere for its panorama towers and Helsinki for its parks.

Lahti Ski Games

Article updated on February 26th, 2014: Every year at the beginning of March, Lahti is hosting the Lahti Ski Games, a World Cup event with the best ski jumpers, Nordic Combiners and cross-country skiiers on a 3 days long weekend. About 50.000 people visited the stadium last winter. Will you be one of them in this edition? The Olympic champion of cross-country skiing Iivo Niskanen will be there! Other Olympic champions are participating such as the Swiss Dario Cologna, double Olympic champion. In ski jumping, the double Olympic champion from Poland is coming as well as the whole German team.

There will be also games for the whole family, concerts, food, Games products and accessories on the square next to the Exhibition center (few meters away from the skiing stadium). Concerts fees are included in the entrance ticket. Don't loose your ticket if you are coming back in the evening!

Nordic Combined podium 2012

FRIDAY 28.2.2014

11.00 Ski jumping, 2 training rounds, HS130
14.00 Nordic Combined, ski jumping, trial round, HS 130
15.00 Nordic Combined, ski jumping HS 130
16.30 Ski jumping, Qualification HS 130
17.00 Nordic Combined, cross-country, 10 km (4 x 2,5 km)
18.00 Ski jumping, individual competition, HS 130 (two rounds - replace the cancelled competition in Kuusamo in December)
                                                         

The K116, K90 and K60 ski jumps at night

SATURDAY 01.3.2014

11.00 Nordic Combined, ski jumping, trial round, HS 130
11.30 Cross-Country, sprint (F), qualification, ladies and men
12.00 Nordic Combined, team sprint, ski jumping HS 130
14.00 Cross-Country, sprint (F), finals, ladies and men
16.15 Nordic Combined, team sprint, cross-country (2 x 5 x 1,5 km)
16.15 Ski jumping, team competition, trial round HS 130
17.15 Ski Jumping, team competition, HS 130

Fireworks follow the prize giving ceremony

Anssi Koivuranta

SUNDAY 02.3.2014

10.45 Cross-Country, men, 15 km (C)
13.35 Cross-Country, ladies 10 km (C)
14.00 Ski Jumping, trial round HS 130
15.00 Ski Jumping HS 130


My tip: if you are coming only one day, come on Saturday and don't miss the fireworks after the ski jumping team event!

Website of the event

2013 Junior Synchro Worlds in Helsinki

Starting tomorrow until Saturday, the participants from 15 different countries will offer a show of grace and precision in the Helsinki ice hall (Helsingin Jäähalli) competing for the junior World champion title. The girls are aged between 12 and 18 years old. Tickets are available at lippupalvelu.fi.

Program and prices:
Thursday March 7th: Opening Show 10€
Friday March 8th: Short program 40€
Saturday March 9th: Free program 45€

Ticket for 3 days: 85€

British team enjoy their stay in Helsinki

More about the event

Last minute departures

VR, the railway company, is selling only today very cheap tickets for travelling from Friday March 8th to Monday 11th. No need of Veturi account or student card.

Book your ticket